For Carter Smith, Ohio State Means Something Extra, but Preparation Still Comes First

Carter Smith isn’t pretending Ohio State is just another opponent.

It is his hometown team, a program he has faced in each of the previous four seasons and one he wants another win against. With the Buckeyes coming to Bloomington, there is a personal side to this week’s matchup for Indiana’s offensive lineman.

“Yeah, it always means a little something to me when I get to play the hometown team,” Smith said Tuesday. “This is my fifth year in a row getting to play against them, too.”

But that extra emotion cannot take Indiana away from its preparation. After a difficult game against Nebraska, Smith sees another matchup that will require the Hoosiers to be ready for all four quarters.

“We found a way to rally back really well last week,” Smith said. “And now we’re on to the next one.”

For Smith and Indiana’s offensive line, moving forward starts with fixing what did not work against Nebraska. Smith credited the Cornhuskers with loading the box, but he did not use that as an excuse for the Hoosiers’ rushing performance.

“As an offensive line unit, rushing for less than 100 yards is just not good enough, and that’s all there is to it,” Smith said.

That puts the attention back on the film room and practice field. Smith said the offensive line takes pride in the running game, and the response must come through finding what needs to improve and applying those corrections throughout the week.

Ohio State presents another challenge up front. Smith described the Buckeyes’ defensive line as strong and heavy, putting an emphasis on Indiana’s ability to create movement at the line of scrimmage and open running lanes.

Getting outside the tackles is another part of that approach. Smith described Indiana’s perimeter running game as “changing the math,” pulling blockers outside to give its backs room to work.

Those details matter in a game Smith expects to remain competitive into the fourth quarter. So does the ability to respond when things are not going Indiana’s way.

Smith pointed to last season’s games against Iowa and Ohio State as experiences that helped the Hoosiers understand what they can accomplish under pressure. The comeback against Nebraska provided another example for this year’s team.

Still, there is a difference between drawing confidence from those experiences and expecting last year’s success to carry Indiana through this week.

“Last year’s last year,” Smith said, “and we’re full throttle onto this week.”

Smith said Curt Cignetti has emphasized eliminating complacency throughout the season. That message stands even with the added attention surrounding Ohio State’s visit and the opportunity to give Bloomington another memorable moment.

“It means everything to us,” Smith said. “We pour our hearts and souls into this, and we want to give the town something that’s special to remember.”

Smith wants the home crowd to play its part, too.

“We need Bloomington to show up for sure,” he said.

Inside the program, the goal remains to approach the game with the same preparation Indiana expects every week. But Smith acknowledged that a matchup like this brings a little more attention to detail.

“I think there is a little bit of special detail going into everybody’s preparation this week,” Smith said. “Top-five matchups are never going to be easy.”

For Smith, that is where the personal significance and the team’s priorities meet. Ohio State means a little more, but beating the Buckeyes still comes down to the work before kickoff.

“We’re going to be ready for the fight,” Smith said, “and we know our opponent.”